Ventura County Sheriff's Office Capt. Garo Kuredjian gives an overview of what officers found when they arrived at The Oaks mall after a shooting on March 17, 2018.
Gretchen Wenner

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This was the scene at The Oaks on March 17, 2018 following a fatal shooting of an employee at the Paper Source. Authorities allege the victim's ex-husband opened fire then turned the gun on himself, though he survived.(Photo: GRETCHEN WENNER/THE STAR)Buy Photo

Years before authorities said a man fatally shot his ex-wife at The Oaks mall on Saturday, the pair were involved in a domestic violence dispute.

Kevin Crane was arrested in connection with felony domestic battery on Sept. 13, 2014, "because his fiancé had called the police and accused him of attacking her," said Ventura County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Frawley.

A charge of misdemeanor domestic battery was filed against Crane but the case never went to trial because Parisa Siddiqi recanted her original statement to the defense and stopped cooperating with the prosecution, Frawley said.

"Unfortunately, it's very common in domestic violence cases," Frawley said.

The case was dismissed on Jan. 20, 2015, and no other incidents were brought to the attention of law enforcement, Frawley said.

Details of the 2014 incident came to light in the days after investigators said Crane walked into Siddiqi's job at the Paper Source store at the shopping center on Hillcrest Drive and shot her multiple times. They argued before the gunfire broke out, authorities said.

"All of us at Paper Source are saddened by the loss of our beloved colleague and team member," the company said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and most of all her two children, through this extremely difficult time."

The 2014 investigation

A few weeks after the 2014 criminal case against Crane was dismissed, Siddiqi and Crane got married on Feb. 4, 2015. She gave birth to their second son on March 6, 2015, according to court documents.

Their marriage was short-lived. Siddiqi filed for divorce in January 2016, with the judgment finalized in February 2017. However, the couple's neighbor said he saw the pair together as recently as last week.

Jay Adler lives on Shadow Lake Drive near the home the couple shared when deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office were called to investigate in 2014.

Adler said he saw Crane, Siddiqi and their two boys on a weekly basis and had spoken with Crane as recently as last week as he was putting car seats in his car.

"He always seemed like a good father," he said.

As deputies investigated Siddiqi's 2014 report at the Shadow Lake Drive home they interviewed the couple and took "digital photographs of victim’s injuries and suspect’s head and arms," according to a Ventura County sheriff's property report.

They also booked into evidence a black .40 caliber Glock handgun, two corresponding 10-round magazines and 18 bullets “for safekeeping,” according to the report.

On Oct. 1, 2014, the district attorney's office filed a petition “for forfeiture or return of confiscated weapons” related to the Sept. 2014 incident, with a copy of the filing sent to Crane.

The district attorney’s office alleged that the return of the weapon and ammunition “would be likely to result in endangering the victim, Parisa Siddiqi, a victim of domestic violence.”

Crane had 30 days to respond to the petition and confirm he wanted to schedule a hearing on the matter. He did not respond, according to court documents.

Adler said he learned of the shooting on Sunday and said Monday he had been feeling "distraught all day."

"When something like this happens you feel connected," he said.

It was not known if Crane ever got the gun back or what type of firearm was used in the mall shooting.

The divorce

According to divorce papers, Siddiqi’s request to dissolve the marriage was filed on Jan. 22, 2016. She stated “irreconcilable differences” as the reason and signed the request on January 2016.

Siddiqi was given full custody of their two sons, ages 3 and 4, at a Feb. 27, 2017, hearing. The order stated that Crane was allowed a two-hour supervised visit with his children once a week. His mother was listed as the person who would supervise the visits mandated to occur out in the community, according to the document.

It cites a previous court ruling on Jan. 12, 2016, in which the court “denied services to this parent," referencing Crane.

This was the scene at The Oaks on March 17, 2018 following a fatal shooting of an employee at the Paper Source. Authorities allege the victim's ex-husband opened fire then turned the gun on himself, though he survived. GRETCHEN WENNER/THE STAR

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The ruling was based on “clear and convincing evidence that he or she was responsible for severe physical abuse of or severe physical harm to the child.”

In the past, Crane had financial troubles and filed for bankruptcy in May 2012. His debts were later discharged and his case closed in August 2012, according to court documents.

But by 2014, Crane had obtained a license from the California Bureau of Real Estate to sell property. According to his Facebook page, he was hired in January as an agent with a firm in Los Angeles. Messages left with the company were not returned.